Mechanical thigh-corset-locking device for artificial limbs



Feb. 9,1926. 1,572,318 4 A. D. SCULLY MECHANICAL THIGH CORSET LOCKING DEVICE FOR ARTIFICIAL LIMBS Filed July 8, 1925 A Lsxh/voel? D. Sou/.

11v VENTOk W41 PM -W ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

.ALEXANDER nfsoULLY, or'nnw YORK, 1v. Y.

"MECHANICALTHIGH-CORSET-LOCKING DEVICE FOR ARTIFICIAL LIMBS.

Application jfiled. July 8,

To all 1071 am it may concern.

Be it. known that I, Annxaisnnn D. SOULLY, a citizenof the United States, and

:resident of. New York city, in the countyof New York and StateTof'New York, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Mechanical Thigh-Corset-Locking Devices for Artificial Limbs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanical thigh corset locking devices for artificial limbs and has a particular reference to devices adapted to attach an artificial limb to a thigh portion of a human body.

The object of my invention is to provide an adjustable clamp for a thigh corset for an artificial limb, adapted to be easily and quickly locked or unlocked in any adjusted position.

In ordinary corsets of this kind the clamping and adjustment is usually accomplished by means of laces, the process of lacing being slow and quite uncertain as to the result-ant degree of tightness. With my device the clamping and unclamping is done very quickly, and every time in an exactly predetern'iined position, the degree of tightness being adjusted only when it is necessary, otherwise it remains constant.

My invention is more fully described in the accompanying specification and drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front view of my device, Fig. 2 is a section through my clamp on a line 2 2, Fig. 3 is a side view of same, Fig. 1 is a top view, and Fig. 5 is a general view of an artificial foot embodying my device, shown on a reduced scale.

My device consists of a leather boot or corset 1 (which may be, however, made of any suitable flexible material) attached at the sides to supporting bars 2 by means of leather pockets 3. The bars 2 are slidably fitted in clevises 4 of lower bars 5 and pivoted on pins 6. The lower bars 5 are attached to the calf portion of an artificial foot 7.

The corset 1 is open at the front and provided with a clamp plate 8 with eye hooks 9 and holes 10 with which it is attached (by means of screws or rivets) to one side of the corset 1. The eyes 9 are adapted to engage hooks 11 attached to adjustable plates 12. These plates are placed on rack plates 13 with slots 14. A hook 15 on the plates 12 engage the slots 14: thereby retain- 1925. Serial 1To.'42,'196.

ing the plates with the hooks 11 in any desired position. i

' The plates 12 are provided with guiding lugsloeengaging the sides of the slotted plate 13. Guide bars 17 extend over the top surface of the plate 12 thereby retaining esame in engagement withthe; plate 13. The

ends of bars 17 are riveted to the ends of the plate 13 (rivets 18). The plate 12 is provided with a tongue 19 with which it may be raised so as to disengage the hook or lug 15 from the slots 14: of the plate 13. In order to prevent the plate 12 from becoming accidentally disengaged, a locking latch 20 is provided, pivoted by a pin 21 toa lug 22 on the plate 12. The latch is provided with ahandle 23 and a locking lug 24 adapted to fit between the end of the plate 12 at the lug 15 and the guiding bars 17 under the tongue 19, as shown in Fig. 1. The released position of the locking latch is shown with dotted lines.

If necessary, the plates 18 with the plates 12 can be placed in anew position on the corset by unscrewingnuts 25 from bolts 26 and thereby releasing the plates from their position to be similarly attached in new positions.

The ends of the corset are made 'to overlap each other as shown in order to present a more or less smooth surface on the inside.

Important advantages of my device are that it can be adjusted to a correct fit over the thigh, and then clamped and unclamped quickly and easily, the adjustment remaining permanent until readjusted again, if necessary. The adjustment cannot change by itself, the parts being securely locked from any accidental displacement. In case, the leather of the corset becomes worn out, the metalparts can be removed and replaced on a new leather corset.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a mechanical thigh corset locking device for artificial limbs, the combination with a corset, a plurality of plates attached to one side of said corset, transverse slots in said plates, slidably mounted members on said plates, lugs on said members adapted to engage said slots,handles on said members for manually disengaging said lugs from said slots, hooks on said members, and eye clasps attached to the other side of said corset adapted to engage said hooks.

2. In a mechanical thigh corset locking device for artificial limbs, the combination with a corset, a plurality of plates attached to one side of said corset, transverse slots in said plates, sliding members on said plates, lugs on said members adapted to engage said slots, retaining means for said members, hooks on said members, and eye clasps attached to the other side of said corset and adapted to engage said hooks.

3. In a mechanical thigh corset locking device for artificial limbs, the combination I with a plurality of plates attached to one side of said corset, ta-nsverse slots in said plates, sliding members on said plates, retaining bars for said sliding members, lugs on said members adapted to engage said slots, hooks on said members, and eye clasps on the other side of said corset adapted to engage said books. I 4. In a mechanical thigh corset locking device for artificial limbs, the combination 20 lock said sliding members in their positions, 26

hooks on said members, and eye clasps on the other side of said corset, said eye clasps being adapted to engage said hooks.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York June A. D. 30

ALEXANDER D. SGULLY. 

